At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, Wanda Sykes delivered one of the night’s most talked‑about moments with her witty, pointed remarks while presenting the award for Best Performance in Stand‑Up Comedy on Television. Known for her sharp comedic instincts, Sykes roasted several fellow comics, but her jokes about Bill Maher and Ricky Gervais stole attention.
As she introduced the nominees, Sykes playfully teased Maher, telling him he contributes a lot to comedy and culture — “but I would love a little less” — suggesting he dial back his usual output. The joke reportedly drew a subdued response from Maher, who was seated nearby. Sykes continued her rapid‑fire humor, noting each nominee’s quirks, and setting up the audience for a memorable punchline.
The award went to Ricky Gervais, who was not in attendance. When Sykes accepted the award on his behalf, she delivered perhaps the night’s most buzzed‑about line, announcing that Gervais would like to “thank God and the trans community.” The remark served as a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to past controversies regarding Gervais’s jokes about transgender people and his personal beliefs, blending humor with cultural commentary.
Sykes’s performance onstage reverberated beyond the ceremony itself, sparking broader reactions online and from cultural commentators. Some saw her taunts as a refreshing blend of comedy and critique, while others took issue with the tone and implications of her remarks.
In any case, Sykes’s Golden Globes moment underscored her reputation as a comedian unafraid to mix sharp humor with pointed social commentary — creating a standout moment at one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.